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AI · head to head

CoreWeave vs Replicate

CoreWeave logo

CoreWeave

AI

Specialized cloud for GPU compute

From
$0.35/per-hour
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Replicate logo

Replicate

AI

Run AI models in the cloud

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Replicate has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CoreWeave gPU nodes are sold as full 8 GPU instances rather than single cards, so the entry cost for an H100 node is $49.24 an hour on demand; Replicate private model deployments are billed for all the time instances are online, including setup and idle time, not only for processing
  • They diverge on capability: CoreWeave covers NVIDIA H100/A100, Replicate covers Model hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CoreWeave and Replicate actually diverge.

Attributes where CoreWeave and Replicate differ
AttributeCoreWeaveReplicate
Starting price$0.35/per-hourFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloudApi, Cloud
Founded20172019

Identical on both: pricing model (usage-based), user rating (Not yet rated), category (AI).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in CoreWeave

  • NVIDIA H100/A100
  • Kubernetes native
  • High bandwidth
  • Object storage
  • Kubernetes
  • Terraform
  • Cloud APIs

Only in Replicate

  • Model hosting
  • Simple API
  • Auto-scaling
  • Custom models
  • REST API
  • Python client
  • JavaScript client
  • Api support

Both cover

  • Cloud support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CoreWeave

  • Renting GPU compute for model training and inferencenot Replicate
  • Running large scale AI workloads without buying hardwarenot Replicate

Replicate

  • Running open source machine learning models through a hosted API without managing GPUsnot CoreWeave
  • Deploying and serving a custom or fine tuned model on rented GPU hardwarenot CoreWeave
  • Per second billed batch image, video and language model inferencenot CoreWeave

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

CoreWeave

  • GPU nodes are sold as full 8 GPU instances rather than single cards, so the entry cost for an H100 node is $49.24 an hour on demand
  • Spot pricing is roughly 40% of on demand, at $19.71 an hour for the same H100 node, so predictable capacity carries a large premium
  • The newest hardware carries no published price and requires contacting sales
  • Discounts of up to 60% require committed usage agreements negotiated with sales
  • Only the GH200 is offered as a single GPU instance

Replicate

  • Private model deployments are billed for all the time instances are online, including setup and idle time, not only for processing
  • Multi-GPU A100, H100, H200 and L40S capacity beyond the listed configurations is only available with a committed spend contract
  • The pricing page publishes no free tier allowance

Pricing, plan by plan

CoreWeave

$0.35/per-hour
  • Standard$0.35/per-hour
    • Various GPU types
    • Kubernetes
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Dedicated clusters
    • Custom solutions

Replicate

Free
  • Pay-as-you-go$null/usage
    • Billed by execution time for public models
    • CPU Small: $0.000025/second ($0.09/hour)
    • 8x Nvidia A100 GPUs: $0.0112/second ($40.32/hour)
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Dedicated account manager
    • Priority support
    • Higher GPU limits

Which should you pick?

Choose CoreWeave if

  • You need nvidia h100/a100.
  • You work on Cloud.
  • You also want kubernetes native.
CoreWeave review

Choose Replicate if

  • You need model hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Api, Cloud.
  • You also want simple api.
Replicate review

Questions people ask

Is CoreWeave or Replicate better?
Neither clearly leads. CoreWeave starts at $0.35/per-hour and Replicate at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CoreWeave or Replicate?
Replicate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $0.35/per-hour for CoreWeave and Free for Replicate.
Does CoreWeave or Replicate run on more platforms?
CoreWeave runs on Cloud. Replicate runs on Api, Cloud.
Can I use Replicate for free?
Yes. Replicate has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CoreWeave starts at $0.35/per-hour.
What is CoreWeave best used for?
CoreWeave is most often used for renting gpu compute for model training and inference, running large scale ai workloads without buying hardware. Of those, renting gpu compute for model training and inference and running large scale ai workloads without buying hardware are not what Replicate is typically brought in for.
What can CoreWeave do that Replicate cannot?
CoreWeave covers NVIDIA H100/A100, Kubernetes native, High bandwidth, Object storage. Replicate covers Model hosting, Simple API, Auto-scaling, Custom models. Both handle Cloud support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CoreWeave: How much does CoreWeave cost?

CoreWeave does not publish pricing on its website. The company uses a quote-based pricing model and directs customers to contact their sales team directly to discuss pricing options and customized solutions.

Source
Replicate: How much does Replicate cost?

Replicate uses pay-as-you-go pricing based on model execution time and compute type. Costs range from $0.09/hour for CPU (Small) to $40.32/hour for 8x Nvidia A100 GPUs. Some models charge per input/output tokens instead of time.

Source
CoreWeave: How can I get a quote from CoreWeave?

To obtain CoreWeave pricing, you must contact their sales team directly through the Contact Us option on their website. They will provide a customized quote based on your specific compute and infrastructure requirements.

Source
Replicate: Does Replicate offer a free tier?

Yes, Replicate is free to start with pay-as-you-go pricing. There are no subscription tiers or minimum commitments; you pay only for what you use.

Source
Replicate: What is the difference between public and private models?

Public models are billed by execution time. Private models are billed for all instance uptime including setup, idle, and active processing time, except for fast-booting fine-tunes which are billed only during active processing.

Source
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